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So Oh Shinali Sister Project

EIN 85-1245097 · West Covina, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood78 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SO'OH-SHINL SISTER PROJECT PROMOTES INDIGENOUS EDUCATION AND WELLNESS TO EMPOWER ALL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE URBAN SETTING THROUGH CORE VALUES, INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING ROOTED IN CULTURAL PRACTICES.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$976,781
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
10
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$141,210, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 27% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 192% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 3 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $130,104 spent. WELLNESS SERVICES: WE HOSTED A SERIES OF PROGRAMS DEDICATED TO INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES AND WELLNESS SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS INCLUDED COHORT-BASED PROJECTS, ONE TITLED COOKING FOR WELLNESS. EACH COHORT PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY TYPE 2 DIABETES BY PROVIDING TANGIBLE PRACTICES THAT MAY BE EASILY INTEGRATED TO MAKE HEALTHY CHANGES THAT START AT HOME. EACH COHORT FOCUSED ON EDUCATION ON TRADITIONAL FOODWAYS TO HELP SUSTAIN INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGES RELATED TO ANCESTRAL HARVESTING, STORYTELLING, AND HEALTHY CONSUMPTION FOR COMMUNITY WELLNESS. WE ALSO LED A SERIES OF CELEBRATING ELDERHOOD GATHERINGS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR ELDER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS ADVANCED OUR MISSION TO OFFER INCLUSIVE AND INTERGENERATIONAL CULTURALLY-ROOTED WELLNESS SERVICES. TOTAL NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDING WELLNESS PROGRAMS IS 107 WITH EVEN MORE BEING IMPACTED BY OUR WELLNESS MATERIALS AND LEARNING.
  2. $194,000 spent. EDUCATION SERVICES: WE LED TWO SERIES OF PROGRAMS TRANSGENERATIONAL HEALTH AND HEALING, ROOTED IN RESILIENCE, AND SACRED LITTLE ONES TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND RESOURCES. THESE SERIES SHARED EDUCATION AROUND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING, HEALING, AND TRAUMA. IN PARTICULAR, ROOTED IN RESILIENCE PROVIDED PSYCHOEDUCATION AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, PROMOTED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, REDUCED STIGMA, AND INCREASED THE CAPACITY OF THE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ATTENDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IS 197 WITH AN EVEN LARGER REACH FOR OUR EDUCATION MATERIALS AND LEARNING.
  3. $55,289 spent. LEADERSHIP SERVICES: WE PROVIDED FACILITATION AND WORKSHOPS TO 12 ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH VARIOUS INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP TOPICS INCLUDING - (1) BEADING CIRCLES, (2) SOCIAL JUSTICE IN EDUCATION, (3) CULTURE, BALANCE AND INDIGENOUS WELLNESS, (4) COMBATTING STEREOTYPES AND MYTHS WITH STRENGTHS AND TRUTHS, (6) INDIGENIZING WELLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE AND (6) INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP AND RELATIONAL WISDOM. WE HAVE PROVIDED OUR TEAM ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING: VALUES ALIGNED LEADERSHIP, LEGISLATURE & POWER MAPPING, AND TEAM STRENGTHS & ACCOUNTABILITY. THROUGH INVESTMENT IN THESE SPECIFIC TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, WE HAVE POSITIONED OUR STAKEHOLDERS, LARGER LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY, AND INTERNAL TEAM MEMBERS TO DEVELOP INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS. A TOTAL OF 192 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE SERVED THROUGH OUR DIRECT LEADERSHIP FACILITATION SERVICES.
  4. $8,825 spent. ALL OTHER - IN ORDER TO CONNECT OUR OVERALL SERVICES, DIRECTION AND JOURNEY BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE HOSTED A COMMUNITY REPORT BACK EVENT THAT ALLOWED US TO COLLECT IMPORTANT COMMUNITY GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK WITH 43 ATTENDEES. WE ALSO PROVIDED WELLNESS SUPPORTS THROUGH LARGER COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS. A TOTAL OF 2,330 COMMUNITY WERE SERVED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2020.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.